Alford Craft Market

CERAMICS at ALFORD CRAFT MARKET MAY 23rd , 24th ,25th 2020

The theme for our Spring May Bank Holiday Working Craft Market 2020 will be CERAMICS with the support of Heather and Michel Ducos of Alford Pottery. There will be many selected pottery stalls (please contact us if you are a potter and would like to attend), a pottery exhibition, a demonstration of different aspects of pottery including Poterie a la corde, throwing, sculpting, a series of films on pottery, and a programme of clay based activities free for the public.

The event will actually kick off on the 1st February 2020 with the start of a very large community effort where we invite everyone in the town of Alford to make a clay bird. We hope to make up to one thousand birds, which will then be displayed at the Ceramics weekend as an installation.
Calling Alford Bird Makers!

Collect your piece of clay from Alford Pottery, Commercial Road, Alford from 1st February 2020 which will come with instructions - see below:-
MAKING BIRDS
There are no rules, no designs, it is totally up to you.
You can make a flat bird, a 3 dimensional bird, a small bird, a big bird, a sparrow or an owl or a duck, anything goes!

USING CLAY

Do not eat it! It’s not poisonous; it just doesn’t taste very good.
Start with clean hands and wear an apron and not your best clothes.
Do not insert anything in your bird, like wood, glass or plastic because it would explode in the kiln and damage lots of birds.
Table, hands, tools, everything can be cleaned with water.

WHAT TO DO...
Collect your clay from the 1st February.
Have a think and decide on your bird, you could always do a drawing or look at pictures or look on the web.
Cut a lump of clay and start making. If you want to add bits like the head or a bigger tail, it is better if you use a bit of water as a glue and press the bits together hard.
Best would be if your bird is hollow as a solid one might blow up in the kiln and damage all the other birds around.
Work on a bit of cardboard and put your finished bird on the cardboard and bring it to the Pottery by the end of March latest.
It will be fired to 1000 degrees and last for ever.
You can always make another one and another better one, no limits! And, if you want, you can scratch your name on it, sign it like a real potter!
After the display, you can have your bird back if you want it.

Participating potters and ceramicists are welcome to improve the installation by giving or lending one (or more) birds of your making and design. Potters, ceramicists and Alford people please contact us for details.

We will also challenge all potters, whether they are able to participate in the weekend or not, to enter a (free) competition in making a JUG, any size, any style any shape, it’s up to you, but it has to pour! These will be on display during the weekend and may be for sale, but will remain in situ until the judging. The winning jug will be chosen by a panel of five judges, including our special guest MATTHEW WILCOCK “Best Potter” in the first series of the Throwdown and the Town’s Mayor - the prize will be £100. There will also be a people’s prize of £100 awarded to the potter whose jug is voted the public’s favourite over the weekend.

Matt Wilcock

Here is a short video of the first birds to be made for our 1000 birds project.

Our January sale runs through the month until the 31st January, 2020.
You will find Karen Devereux's sale cards for £1 and her prints at half price. Decoupage pictures by Carol Thompson reduced by £5 (large) and £3(small), jewellery by Val Cook are buy one get one free, fused glass and walkies hangers all 25% off, and half price Christmas cards. Plus many more.
Come and have a browse.

Alford Craft Market is a not for profit organisation founded in 1974 to promote quality Lincolnshire Crafts via its Events, Shop and Crafts Classes. alfordcraftmarket@gmail.com

The Alford Craft Market Shop is OPEN 10AM - 4PM EVERY DAY EXCEPT SUNDAYS (open bank holiday Sundays and Christmas Craft Market Sundays).

Stuck for an idea for a present for that artistic person you know? Have a look at our classes and workshops and book something for them here

Fill in this contact form if you would like to be kept informed of Alford Craft Market Events and Classes at Alford Craft Market Centre.
We would also like to hear from you if you are a craft tutor and are interested in running a class for us - please get in touch!

Visit our Alford Craft Market Centre page for information, news and new artist's work coming in!

Follow @Alfordcrafts

We have had some canvas shopping bags made - much better than using plastic bags. The design is from our very first Alford Craft Market poster in 1974 by Countryside Arts of Swaby, near Alford - come to one of our events or to Alford Craft Market Centre to buy - £2.50 each or buy from us via email @ £3.50 including postage and packing.

Enquiries to:
Telephone 01507 463341 (daytime only)
alfordcraftmarket@gmail.com

If you wish to contribute in a different way we always welcome your help.
If you would like to become a ‘Friend of Alford Craft Market’ and spend an hour or two welcoming visitors at the gate over the bank holiday weekends or doing some 'admin' we would love to hear from you. The craft market is run entirely by a small committee of volunteers and we are finding it hard to cover all the jobs between us, so if you can lend a hand with these vital tasks please contact us: alfordcraftmarket@gmail.com